Crafting, fun and friendship

Wednesday, 29 March 2017

I did apologise a couple of weeks back for my random pics and lack of crafting, which is when I didn't post. Many of the folk who commented that week said they didn't care and quite enjoyed seeing what nonsense appears in this space.

So...you have been warned. This is what the past seven days has contained:

The removal of several very overgrown palm trees from our garden. Mr LLJ and my brother Steve did an amazing job and were very careful not to accidentally demolish next door's fence!

My niece (Steve's daughter) wanted some driftwood to make interesting sculptures for her wedding later this year...we got many curly pieces but this was the piece de resistance! What would YOU do with it?

I did a LOT of walking - 35 miles in a week :-) The beach is just too good to ignore, especially during the gorgeous weather we had over the weekend. The beaches in the area face straight onto the Gulf Stream coming across the Atlantic. it's always interesting to see what gets carried ashore on the tide. Today's surprise was:

Tuesday, 21 March 2017

I didn't join in last week because there was nothing to share with you craftwise and I couldn't get away with random pics....

...so what's changed? Well nothing much!

I'm still doing much of my reading, crafting and general day to day stuff at my kitchen table!

I'm using up a spare ball of variegated yarn to make a preemie blanket for the local hospital (as organised by the Knit & Natter group) I quite like the yarn but it seems to have taken AGES! Think I'll crochet the next one using the lavender yarn that Wipso gave me when she was down..it'll have to be a close stitch as they don't like lacy blankets - the kiddlywinks get their fingers trapped in the holes. That funky card is from Neet...here's a close up:

It's funky huh?! I love the bright colours which are even more day-glo in reality...thanks Neet, we love it!

The other things to share are these gorgeous table mats and coasters which were a house warming present from my brother and SiL. It's a print of a hare from an old book which has been transferred to tiles made of Travertine marble - they're really heavy and I LOVE them! I like the way the coasters come in pairs of a front and back...if ever you're at my house, don't take offence if you get a back end to put your brew on!!

The other work table is this:

We've done so much painting, we should have taken out shares in Dulux! Between decorating, being in Band contests and other stuff, the weeks are just zipping past.

A couple of pics to finish with which were taken on 'my' beach. The tide was far out and exposed the wreck which has been there for over a hundred years. It was one of those atmospheric silvery grey days....there's any amount of interesting things growing on the timbers..barnacles, seaweed that looks like hair etc

It lends itself to some weird pics!

You can either see 3 Nessy monsters or standing stones or whatever takes your fancy. Great pic Mr LLJ!

Thanks for dropping by and putting up with my craftless state...I'm not promising any different for next week!!

Wednesday, 8 March 2017

Whizz, whizzy whizz whizz - that's what this past seven days has been like! But not all decorating related (hooray!) it's mostly been about seeing wonderful friends (double hooray!!) and playing music (thrice hooray!!!)

That wonderful Wipso and her DH came to visit, so we walked and looked at boats and had lunch and walked on the beach and talked...a lot :-D Annie bought me some beautiful daffs in pots so they immediately went by the front door:

Goodness, it was so great to see this lovely lady again!! Not only were the daffs beautiful but Annie brought me some new stash too...

Some lavender coloured yarn and six fat quarters which I will definitely put to good use when the JanCave Mk2 is up and running. Annie also gave me one of her patterns - generous crafting buddy that she is...thank you!! I also received a card and fun present from Kelly in the US and another gorgeous card and wonderful canvas from Lisa Mellor:

I love the colours, the beach huts and the sentiment too - that is going on a wall soon, for sure. I'm a very lucky girl to have such thoughtful and generous friends - thank you all xx

I took Annie down the harbour for a mooch - it was really calm that day...

and we walked on golden sands in the afternoon and chatted about anything and everything! Lovely people, I hope we meet up again very very soon ( have already found a direct train between our two towns..)

G and I went down the harbour again on Sunday when the tide and wind were both high...it was a very different place to Annie's visit. The local lifeboat crew were practising...

Getting ready to set off...

It was a LOT choppier out in the estuary...

They sped out over the sea, turned on a sixpence and came back in again - I'd have loved to have been on the boat. Going fast is one of my favourite things :-D

The jet skiers were out too but their journey looked a lot more hazardous when they were out at sea, I was glad they got into harbour safely.

Getting the boats out again was interesting. A brand new boathouse is going to be built for this very busy lifeboat station, starting in August. There'll be a lot more opportunities for volunteering so I'll be putting my name down to help in the future. The crews saved 93 people last year - that's something worth supporting.

Sorry there's not been much crafting (again) but I hope you enjoyed seeing the pics!

Wednesday, 1 March 2017

MAMMA'S GOT A SQUEEZEBOX SHE WEARS ON HER CHESTAND WHEN DADDY COMES HOME, HE NEVER GETS NO REST.....

It's short and sweet this week, mostly because I haven't got anything much to show you! The week has flitted past and I just don't know where the days have gone. There's been lots of painting, leaks in the plumbing, washing machine breaking - all I've managed to do is a bit of baby hat knitting of an evening...

And my desk this week is at my new kitchen table - we're so happy with it, I could spend all day in there!

The little hats are there, plus an empty mug of tea, my phone and a membership form to join the WI (Women's Institute for the non UK readers!). I've wanted to join for ages but never had the opportunity and one has just started so I went along yesterday with my mate Helen. There was a good number of ladies there and we enjoyed a very funny talk on the history of underwear! This was pertinent as Helen had sent me this pic of what she has been knitting the past week:

Boobs! Helen is a community midwife and was asked by a breastfeeding counsellor if she could help - they are used in feeding demonstrations to new and expectant mums :-D I think they're fantastic and well...very perky!!! I'm quite envious......

I'm very excited because Annie (Wipso) and her DH are coming to visit tomorrow! Woohoo, I'm looking forward to seeing them very much, hopefully you'll see some pics next week!